April 22, 2004 marks the 34th anniversary
of the first observance of Earth Day.

Former U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson (D-WI),
Earth Day's co-founder, said he modeled Earth Day on anti-Vietnam
War demonstrations called "teach-ins" that then were
common on college campuses:

"At a conference in Seattle in September
1969, I announced that in the spring of 1970 there would be a
nationwide grassroots demonstration on behalf of the environment,"
said Nelson. "The response was electric. Telegrams, letters
and telephone inquiries poured in from all across the country."

As many as 20 million Americans participated in environmental
rallies, demonstrations and other activities as part of the 1970
Earth Day.

Since that first Earth Day, the environmental
movement has increasingly transformed itself from a largely grassroots
citizen crusade to a professionally-organized and established
special interest. Environmental organizations now employ 3,400
full-time employees, including leaders who often make annual
salaries of $150,000 or more. Those groups also employ a small
army of scientists, lobbyists, lawyers and public affairs specialists.
In his book Undue Influence, environmental author Ron Arnold
notes that the groups that comprise the environmental left are
increasingly relying upon wealthy non-profit foundations to fund
their extensive operations while actual dues-paying members are
playing a declining role. A 1997 study found that non-profit
foundations donated nearly $500 million to environmental organizations.1

The Natural Resources Defense Council,
for example, received over $11 million in contributions from
a single foundation - The Pew Charitable Trusts - between 1991
and 2000.2

Some environmental groups have become
increasingly extreme. Earth First! is a radical environmental
group that advocates civil disobedience whose participants endorse
"front-line, direct action to get results."3 Not radical enough, the Earth Liberation Front
(ELF) was created in 1992 after splitting from Earth First!.4 The FBI has labeled the ELF as "the number
one domestic terrorist group."5
ELF claims responsibility for more than $100 million worth of
damage since 1997.6